I've been working with a client on developing marketing materials. Sooo much fun! I enjoy being in on a project from the ground up.
I'm in the middle of two different books, look for reviews of them over the next two weeks. And I've been trying to get caught up on all the magazines I've received lately.
As soon as the kids get home from school, we'll be doing dinner and then it's off to Trick or Treat. Happy Halloween!
I've been hesitant to talk politics here. I don't want to dissuade people from reading if they don't agree with my beliefs or affiliations. It makes no difference to me whether you are a Republican, Democrat or an Independent, please vote on Tuesday. It's your right, as our government is by and for the people.
Having said all that, I watched Barack Obama last night. I found myself on the brink of tears a few times. America is facing incredibly difficult times right now. Many of the people I know are starting to sweat. They're not sure what their future looks like and it scares them to death. I worry about them, as well as about my own family.
Every time I listen to Senator Obama, I feel myself drawn into his message of change and hope. Let's face it, hope has been scarce lately. Dogged acceptance of circumstance seems to be the current atmosphere. I think America is better than this. The last eight years have bogged us down further and further into a quagmire of fear and disappointment. Uncertainty and desperation are not good places to work from.
I think that Barack Obama has what it takes to run this country. I've read and watched as much as I can about him. If you don't share my opinion, that's okay. It's a free country, last I checked. And yes, I've read up on McCain, and Palin, and Biden.
My birthday is Election Day. I will be 39 years old. I have never looked forward to a birthday so much as this one. Not even my 21st. I want to know who our next President will be, and I want the campaigning to be over.
Last time I posted I was waiting on things. My friend who was in the hospital is okay. My book was returned. And the work was fun to do.
I tried my hand at copywriting and discovered that I really like it, I'm good at it and I'd like to do more. It's fun turning dry facts into "gotcha" copy!
I'm also back to writing query letters to publications. Some ideas have popped over the last week or so, and I want to turn them into articles.
So, I'm back on the writing train. And I'll be blogging daily again. I've missed it.
Today will be a day of waiting....
I'm waiting on a book to be returned to me. I'm waiting to hear about a friend of mine who is in the hospital. I'm waiting to hear about potential work.
So, instead of being unproductive while I wait, I'll be writing a press release for a client, formatting a book review and spending a little time on housework.
October has been a very strange month, so far.
The Dracula Dossier
James Reese
William Morrow
ISBN # 978-0061233548
I love it when worlds collide! The Dracula Dossier is the story of Bram Stoker (pre-Dracula), and his unwitting introduction and subsequent involvement with a man presumed to be Jack the Ripper. James Reese paints a stunning portrait of Stoker and his circle of literary friends - Walt Whitman, Lady Jane Wilde, her son, Oscar and Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine.
I see Mr. Reese as a sort of magician. In the writing of this book, and showing us the fantastical life of Stoker, he lets us see what happens behind the smoke and mirrors.
(October 7, 2008, pp 368, $24.95)
One of my pet peeves is the pronunciation of the word nuclear as nuculer. President Bush says nuculer, as does Governor Sarah Palin. It makes my teeth hurt when I hear it.
I looked the word up at dictionary.com. This is what I found.
—Pronunciation note In pronouncing nuclear, the second and third syllables are most commonly said as /-kliər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[-klee-er] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, a sequence of sounds that directly reflects the spelled sequence ‑cle·ar. In recent years, a somewhat controversial pronunciation has come to public attention, with these two final syllables said as /-kyələr/[-kyuh-ler]. Since /-kliər/[-klee-er], the common pronunciation of ‑cle·ar, might also be represented, broadly, as /-kləyər/[-kluh-yer], the /-kyələr/[-kyuh-ler] pronunciation can be seen as coming from a process of metathesis, in which the /l/[l] and the /y/[y] change places. The resulting pronunciation is reinforced by analogy with such words as molecular, particular, and muscular, and although it occurs with some frequency among highly educated speakers, including scientists, professors, and government officials, it is disapproved of by many.
So, I suppose it's acceptable, but I still don't like it.
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent has been chosen by The Happy Bookers Club for discussion during the month of October. Please feel free to join the discussion!
